Chapter 51 Going Out for a Stroll

Lu Shuili's gaze drifted into the distance, and a bitter smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "Naturally, who wouldn't want to master that legendary swordsmanship?"

Lin Fei's gaze fell upon her profile. What drew him in most were her phoenix eyes—slender and profound. But what surprised him even more was that when she smiled, two shallow dimples emerged on her cheeks.

He gazed at her quietly.

Sensing Lin Fei's scrutiny, Lu Shuili asked with a trace of confusion, "What are you looking at?"

"You," Lin Fei answered, a hint of earnestness threading through his voice. "You look very pretty when you smile."

Her expression remained as serene as still water, and she replied indifferently, "Many people have praised me in the past, but very few are as direct as you."

"That is because they fear you, or rather, they fear leaving a bad impression upon you. Or perhaps, one could say they have the desire in their hearts, but lack the courage in their bones."

Lu Shuili blinked, a trace of playfulness coloring her tone. "Are you implying that you have the courage in your bones, but lack the desire in your heart?"

Just at that moment, Qin Qianqian walked over from the sea of flowers and happened to overhear the exchange. Her footsteps involuntarily ground to a halt as astonishment blossomed in her mind: Could their relationship have already progressed to such a degree?

...

As the autumn wind gradually receded, the chill of winter descended in silence.

Yan Qiu preferred to curl up inside the warm wooden cabin, immersing himself in an ocean of books.

Unlike practitioners like Lu Shuili, he could not rely on an abundant flow of spiritual energy to fend off the severe cold.

Complying with Lin Fei's request, Lu Shuili had brought over a sword manual passed down through generations within the Southern Mi Mountain.

Lin Fei took the manual and began to flip through it without the slightest reservation. His actions exuded an open and untroubled demeanor.

Quietly observing the scene, Lu Shuili offered no words of obstruction.

Through their days spent together, she had come to understand that Lin Fei was a man of extreme pride; he would never stoop to stealing someone else's techniques.

"In truth, this is merely a single form," Lin Fei remarked, finishing his rapid perusal of the manual before tossing it back casually.

Catching the manual on reflex, Lu Shuili stood frozen for a moment before asking in puzzlement, "What?"

Lin Fei's words carried a faint note of shock: "The four sword manuals from the four main peaks are, in reality, simply four forms of what you call the Nine Transformations Immortal Sword."

Slowly, he recited the names of those stances: "Heaven and Earth, a Single Sword." "Eight Thousand Flowing Rains." "A Sea of Swords Becomes a Mountain." "Sword Moves Shake the Nine Heavens."

With a serious and steadfast tone, Lin Fei continued, "These names never belonged to sword manuals in the first place; they belong to the stances themselves. Someone merely forced them apart, dividing them into different routines."

The autumn wind swept past once more, leaving the cliff terrace in absolute stillness, as though even time itself had frozen in that instant.

Struck dumb by the sudden revelation, Lu Shuili was rendered practically speechless. Before she even had the chance to question the veracity of the claim, she reflexively pressed on, "Why would anyone do such a thing?"

Pondering for a moment, Lin Fei spoke with a trace of uncertainty in his voice, "Perhaps that person believed the truth was overly complicated, and worried that future generations would lack the wisdom to comprehend its profound meaning?"

...

Lu Shuili was truly a favored daughter of the heavens; she quickly recovered from her shock, gazing at Lin Fei with complicated emotions swirling in her eyes.

Acting as though he remained oblivious to her scrutiny, Lin Fei continued, "With your aptitude, once you grasp this realization and strip away the superfluous parts of the manual, you will be able to perceive its true essence."

"How is it that you know all of this?"

Such information was unquestionably of the utmost secrecy to the Sword Sect. She could even venture to say that not even her master was likely aware of it.

The abrupt appearance of the four forms of the Nine Transformations Immortal Sword—if this news were to leak, heaven only knew what kind of tempest it would stir across the continent.

Lin Fei did not answer immediately. A peculiar expression flickered across his face.

He had long since forgotten many things, including the nine sword forms he had created years ago upon a whim.

Had Lu Shuili not brought it up, he would have almost completely forgotten the matter entirely.

Just like moments ago, it was only after examining the Southern Mi Mountain manual that he had finally confirmed the truth.

To him, sword techniques were hardly matters of great importance, and thus they rarely lingered in his memory.

Furthermore, without the guidance of the manual, he might not even have been able to recall the remaining five forms.

Catching the hesitation lingering on Lin Fei's face, Lu Shuili offered a soft promise, "I will not speak of this to anyone."

Pulling his wandering thoughts back, Lin Fei offered no further explanation, saying only indifferently, "If practicing the sword grows tiresome, you might as well raise your gaze to the heavens. You just might reap unexpected rewards."

Seemingly paying his words no mind, Lu Shuili kept her gaze locked tightly onto the manual in her hand, strange lights shimmering within her eyes.

Lin Fei shook his head lightly, a smile curving the corners of his lips.

She was truly an unadulterated sword maniac.

As night fell, snowflakes began to drift down from the edge of the sky, dancing gracefully in the air.

In a short while, the sea of flowers was blanketed in pristine white snow, resembling a pure and flawless painting.

Winter had arrived unannounced.

Opening his eyes, Lin Fei stared quietly into the distance for a long while before rising to his feet and slowly walking down the cliff terrace.

Snowflakes brushed gently against his body, falling silently to merge with the earth below.

This marked the first time in nearly a year that Lin Fei had stepped off this cliff terrace.

At that moment, Yan Qiu was standing before the waterfall, instructing Qin Qianqian in her sword practice.

Qin Qianqian was the sort of truly diligent and tireless good disciple, as well as the only normal person among the three of them.

Observing the scene, Yan Qiu felt his heart swell with gratification.

He likely felt that the disciples of Dongming Mountain could not afford to remain as lazy as he and his Junior Brother, so whenever he strolled out from his cabin, he always made it a point to offer Qin Qianqian some guidance.

Qin Qianqian held deep reverence in her heart for this Senior Brother who possessed only the Qi Condensation realm. She listened intently to Yan Qiu's teachings, not daring to relax for even a single second.

As the two of them concentrated on their swordsmanship, the sound of footsteps abruptly interrupted them. Ning Rongrong instinctively raised her head, letting out a gasp of surprise.

For the person appearing before them was none other than Lin Fei—a rare sight indeed in their eyes.

For over half a year, she had grown accustomed to the lonely figure of Lin Fei sitting steadfastly at the edge of the cliff. How could she not be astonished to see him suddenly materializing before the waterfall?

Lin Fei spoke with casual indifference, "I've sat for too long and wanted to go out for some fresh air."

Seemingly anticipating the scene all along, Yan Qiu asked with a smile, "Have your injuries completely healed?"

Lin Fei's tone was calm. "Just minor issues, nothing serious."

"Then go early and return early. Do not forget to return by the fourth month of spring."

Pondering for a moment, Yan Qiu added, "Also, be careful on the road."

Meeting Yan Qiu's gaze, Lin Fei nodded slightly.

Yan Qiu had never cared for the outside world; his warning to "be careful" was naturally a reminder for Lin Fei to stay alert to internal movements within the Sword Sect.

Throughout this period, the two of them had maintained a tacit understanding, avoiding any further mention of the events on Sword Tomb Mountain.

Yet both knew clearly in their hearts that the current Sword Sect was far from as peaceful as it appeared on the surface.

Since a Lei Ming could emerge, there was no guarantee a second or third one would not follow.

Lin Fei had remained on Dongming Mountain ever since his injury, rarely venturing out precisely because it was relatively safe here.

Qin Qianqian's gaze followed Lin Fei closely. She seemed to have something she wished to say, yet the words died on her lips, leaving her unsure how to begin.

Passing by her side, Lin Fei spoke softly, "Study the sword manual well. There is no need to rush for success, but etch it firmly in your heart."

Qin Qianqian nodded vigorously, her eyes brimming with steadfast determination.

Lin Fei smiled faintly, reaching out to stroke her head gently.

A look of surprise crossed Qin Qianqian's face; this was the first time since coming to Dongming Mountain that she had seen Lin Fei display such an affectionate gesture.

Lin Fei's figure gradually faded into the distance, leaving behind a straight trail of footprints in the snow that resembled the sharp edge of a sword.

Curiously, Qin Qianqian asked, "Senior Brother Lin Fei seems to be in a very good mood. Is it because he has recovered from his illness?"

Watching those footprints, Yan Qiu remained silent for a moment before replying, "In truth, his mood is not good at all. He is merely hiding it exceedingly well."